I suspect it is because we haven’t really figured that out ourselves so this question would expose that.

The reason to ask yourself this over and over is to make you think deeply about why you are doing something and reveal what you are thinking. And why your work is important enough for other people to pay attention to it, fund it or buy it.

Your answer to this question is the seed of your mission. From this, you build your tagline, your pitch, your grant proposal narrative.

I asked one artist to tell me why his art was important.

“I create art because I have a message to share with the world,” he said.

“And why is that important?” I asked.

“Well, I have something important to say,” he said.

“And why is that important?” I asked.

A moment passed. Then, he said, “It could help people, maybe show them something new.”

“And why is that important?” I asked.

He shifted restlessly in his seat, thinking. “Seeing something they never saw before, or even imagined… it could change them, make them experience things differently…”

“And why is that important?” I asked.

“If my art could give people a new experience, it could change them, make them feel and connect on a deeper level. They would change how they go through life.”

“And why is that important?” I asked.

“Life,” he paused, and finally said, “is too short not to live every single moment deeply and fully.”

Now that is very different from his first answer.

Millions of people have something to say, a message they want to share with the world. If we allowed ourselves to receive all of these messages, we would be in a constant state of bombardment and overload.

We decide what we are going to pay attention to.

To get a grant as an artist, it is not enough to have passion, skills or a message. But by asking yourself this question over and over, you will discover something else: impact. You will know why your work is vital, why it has to happen now, and why the world will be better for it.

You will have a reason for someone to take note of what you are doing.